Judges, lawyers duty-bound to interpret Constitution: CJ

ISLAMABAD – Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry while addressing the participants of the 21st Roll Signing Ceremony of newly enrolled advocates of Supreme Court said that the responsibility of judges and members of the bar is to interpret the Constitution.

The ceremony was held at the Supreme Court building, here on Saturday in which 55 new advocates (07 from Rawalpindi, Islamabad, 22 from Punjab, 10 from Quetta, 2 from Sindh, 14 from KP) were enrolled as Advocates of Supreme Court.

To decide case is an onerous duty and you have to fully assist the bench to accomplish this task. Without able assistance of you, it would be difficult for bench to decide case in a befitting manner, the CJP said. Encouraging the lawyers the Chief Justice said: “By appearing in Supreme Court you are supposed to provide assistance to bench and you must come fully prepared and put all out efforts to plead the case in accordance with the Constitution and law. You have to share more responsibility to assist the Court and ensure justice to people as enshrined in Constitution.”

Appreciating the legal fraternity, the Chief Justice of Pakistan said, “I fully endorse the struggle made by lawyers for rule of law, supremacy of constitution and independence of judiciary which is unprecedented in the judicial history of Pakistan and heralded the dawn of democracy in country. The nexus between bench and bar is very strong and the mutual aim of both is administration of justice. People reposed confidence in judiciary and it is incumbent upon us to ensure justice to them at their doorsteps.

Further Judges are also appointed with care and caution so that they may discharge their constitutional duty in free and fair manner.”

He told the gathering that indeed it is an important milestone in your career to be enrolled as advocate of Supreme Court.

Henceforth you would be in position to share more responsibility than usual as you have been appearing before the Courts for long period.

I know all of you and recognize your ability and talent. You deserve enrolment as Advocate of Supreme Court and I congratulate all of you on behalf of Supreme Court and on my own behalf for signing roll as Advocate Supreme Court of Pakistan. After getting the enrollment in Supreme Court you have to work hard specializing in the area of your choice to appear before the Court to assist the bench regarding the interpretation of the Constitution”, added the Chief Justice.